Complete Guide to When is Disney World Least Crowded 2023

best-time-to-visit-disney-world-least-crowded

Complete Guide to When is Disney World Least Crowded 2023

This is your complete guide to the slowest time to visit Disney World. Are you trying to figure out when is Disney World least crowded in 2023? As families start to travel again, the idea of returning to a world of magic is exactly what many of us need—and the magic of Disney is unbounded. While any trip to this whimsical, wonderful world will surely leave you with beautiful memories, your trip can be made exponentially better by choosing the right time of year to visit.

If you’re wondering when the least busy time to visit Disney World 2023 is, you’re on the right track. Typically, the least busy time at Disney World is late August and September, but there are other times you can catch low crowds too! Below you will find a collection of information to help decide: when is the slowest times at Disney World 2023?

We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next vacation. This includes helping you find the best time to buy Disney World tickets as well as book amazing Walt Disney World vacation packages!

So if you’re ready to learn about the lowest crowds at Disney World read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for our Disney World Crowd Calendar be sure to go straight to the link below. 

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

When is Disney World Least Crowded 2023?

when-is-disney-world-least-crowded

So, what are the least crowded dates at Disney World 2023? Walt Disney World is the single most visited vacation destination on the planet. More than 52 million guests visit each year; there is no “dead” time at Disney. However, there are still times of the year that are better than others as far as crowd size.

We tend to find that the slowest times at Disney World are in the early fall, like September and the late winter, like February. With that being said, the least busy days Disney World do fluctuate, and our guide will go more in depth with the best tips and tricks!

It’s important to note that one quick tip that can save you a ton of time and also help save you a ton of money is to compare Disney ticket prices.  Why you might ask? Well just like Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World theme park tickets now fluctuate based on the time of year you visit. So one of the easiest ways to pick the slowest time to visit Disney is to compare the cheapest Disney World ticket prices. The cheaper the tickets the more likely it is that the parks won’t be as crowded during that time of year.

What is considered off-season for Disney World 2023?

As a general rule of thumb, the slowest times to visit Walt Disney World are typically right when kids go back to school from any major break. (summer, winter, spring, etc) The reason being is most families are done with vacationing at that point which results in lower crowds.

When is Disney World least crowded based on month?

  • End of August
  • September
  • Late January
  • Early February

Based on our Disney World Crowd Calendar data, the slowest weeks at Disney World will fall at the end of August. September is also one of the least crowded times at Disney World. January through February are also fantastic times to visit based on crowd levels As discussed above you can also use this data to compare the cheapest time to buy Disney World tickets. Also the cheaper the tickets the more likely it is that the parks won’t be as crowded during that time of year.

What is the slowest month at Disney?

But what if we are looking for a very specific time of year, you might be wondering what is the slowest month at Disney? And as a general rule of thumb September is the slowest month of the year to visit Disney World in terms of average wait times and the cheapest tickets and vacation packages. With the main reasons for this being it is right after kids in all fifty states have gone back to school and it is also during the busiest month of hurricane season.

Related Page: Discount Walt Disney World tickets 

Tips & Tricks For Picking the Slowest Times at Walt Disney World 2023

EPCOT-food-and-wine-festival-sign

We can’t stress this enough however one of the easiest tips and tricks we can give to help you pick the slowest time at Disney World 2023 is to keep an eye on Disney World ticket pricing. The reason being is Disney World tickets now fluctuate based on the day you plan to visit the parks. Disney will also adjust its pricing up based on how crowded they expect the theme parks to be. So as you can imagine, one of the easiest ways to spot the Disney slow season is to look for the cheapest one day Disney World ticket pricing!

Bonus tip for picking the slowest time to visit Disney World 2023

Always check for events! Walt Disney World is now almost fully back in swing with festivals, parades and even special ticketed events. We can guarantee that any weekend with a runDisney race is going to be packed! Make sure you research all of the special Disney events, which should be easy to locate when planning your vacation.

Which day of the week is the slowest for Magic Kingdom?

The Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World is the most visiting theme park in the world so one of the other most popular questions we receive is, which day of the week is the slowest at Magic Kingdom? And as a general rule of thumb Tuesdays tend to be the slowest day at Magic Kingdom park. This is mostly due to the fact that many families will start a seven day Disney World vacation on a Sunday or Monday with the Magic Kingdom park being the first park they visit. This would mean that by Tuesday they are typically visiting one of the other three Disney World theme parks including EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

Related post: Walt Disney World Food and Wine Festival

What are the Least Busy Days at Disney World 2023? 

least-crowded-days-disney-world

What are the best time to avoid the crowds at Disney World? Using our own expertise and the data from The Park Prodigy Crowd Calendar, we are able to come up with the least crowded days at Disney World for the year. We also have a team of Annual Passholders and Florida Residents who visit Disney World frequently and can confirm! The following days are the least busy times at Disney World 2023.

What are the slowest days at Walt Disney World in 2022?

  • January 11 through 18; January 25 through 31
  • February 2 through 12
  • March 1 through 5
  • April 25 through May 1
  • May 11 through 17
  • August 10 through 31
  • All of September
  • Oct 1 through 21
  • November 16 through 21
  • December 1 through 12

What are the slowest days at Disney World in 2023?

Based on events and traffic of years past, the least crowded days to visit Disney World in 2023 are:

  • Jan. 3-8, Jan. 9-15, Jan. 16-22, Jan. 23-29th, Jan. 30 & 31 (Best time to visit Harry Potter World)
  • Feb. 1-12, Feb.13-16, Feb. 20-28
  • Mar. 1-5
  • Apr. 24-30
  • May. 1-7, May. 8-15
  • All of August
  • All of September
  • Oct. 1-6, Oct. 9-15, Oct. 16-20, Oct. 23-27
  • Nov. 1-6, 27-30 (avoid Thanksgiving week)
  • Dec. 1-3, Dec. 4-10  (avoid Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

Related Page: Disney World Ticket Deals and Promotions

discount-disney-world-tickets-banner

What are the Busiest Weeks at Disney World 2023?

crowds-walking-during-slowest-time-at-disney-world

Now that we know when Disney World least crowded days will be, let’s identify the busiest time of year at Disney World. These are definitely not the best times to visit Disney World if you’re looking for low crowds and minimal waits.

The busiest time of year at Disney World breakdown: 

  • Spring Break (March through April)
  • Thanksgiving week
  • Christmas and New Year’s Eve

So, specific to crowd sizes, the dates above are unmistakably the busiest time to go to Disney and the worst weeks to go to Disney World. However, if you cannot visit during one of the Disney World least crowded months, don’t let this discourage you from planning your trip. Besides crowds, there are many other factors that could go into planning your Disney trip, including weather, special events, and more.

Related post: Guide to Individual Lightning Lane Rides Disney World

Visiting Disney World in the Winter and Fall 2023

festival-of-the-holidays

If you’ve ever been to Disney in the summer, you may also know what it feels like to stand on the surface of the sun. But breaking news—there are times of the year when you will literally need a jacket at Disney. Not only is the weather bearable, but it is also some of the slowest times at Disney World too!

If you visit Disney during November, December, January, or February, you should definitely pack a jacket or a few sweaters. While Disney is prepared to turn on the heat inside of most of their buildings, it can be freezing if you’re waiting outside for a nighttime show. We can also say that while December can be a very busy month for the parks, the holidays are unmatched at all Central Florida theme parks.

The winter and the fall are some of the best times to visit Disney World throughout the entire year. Not only do they have the slowest weeks at Disney World, but also the weather tends to keep crowds down too.

Related post: The Complete Guide to Disney World Parking

Disney World in the Summer and Spring 2023

One-day-at-EPCOT

The springtime can be the slowest time to visit Disney World if you plan it out just right. March and April are also very temperate t-shirt weather months. Layers are always a good idea during these months.

Unfortunately, when it starts to really get hot and humid in May, it is some of the slowest times to visit Disney World. The hottest, most humid months begin with May and end with September. It tends to be very rainy, but is tolerable at the end of the month with some of the lowest crowds at Disney Word.

Something else to consider when planning a Disney vacation are the special events that happen throughout the parks. A lot of the special events attract crowds, but they are still worth attending.

During the springtime, we think is the the best time to go to Disney to experience the Flower and Garden Festival, which runs until the summer. You can catch great days during the Flower and Garden Festival that are the slowest times at Disney World.

Related post: Guide On How to Get Cheap Disney Tickets

Best Time of Year to Visit Disney Orlando 2023

best-months-to-visit-disney-world

Below we break down the list of worst to best months to visit Walt Disney World in Florida so be sure to read through the end to find out about number one!

#12 June – Busiest Months at Disney World

It pains me to put June last. My birthday is in June and I genuinely enjoy being at Disney and wearing that color-coded birthday pin that prompts everyone to aggressively shout “Happy Birthday!” at you. The end of June feels like the busiest time at Walt Disney World as far as crowds due to summer vacation starting. It is also very hot in June and can be rather unbearable.

#11 July – Busy Time for Disney World

Welcome to peak season for Disney! I ranked July slightly higher than June simply because of the 4th of July celebrations at Disney. Magic Kingdom offers themed fireworks for a few nights leading up to the 4th, but July is a very busy time of the year to visit Disney. If you’re wondering, “when is magic kingdom least crowded?” I can assure you the answer is not July. Plus, it’s just hot. It’s also important to note that summer was long considered peak season at Disney. However many other websites support what we have been saying that summers have turned into some-what of an off season at Disney. 

discount-disney-world-tickets-banner

#10 April – Busiest Spring Break Weeks at Disney World

When is off season for Disney World? Not here! Woooo, Spring Break! Fun for families who have children off from school; not so great for visitors trying to avoid crowds. April is one of the most crowded months at Disney World.

#9 December – Best Time to Go to Disney

It’s the best time of year to go to Disney World when trying to get into the holiday spirit but what about the crowds? Crowds get worse in December the closer you get to the holidays. The reason this is not at #12 is I have personally have found that the beginning of the month boasts some of the lightest crowds at Disney World, specifically the first two weeks of the month. The holidays are untouchable and can be very emotional with how well Disney goes all out. Guests can also enjoy the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, which can be a major draw for you foodies out there. But the weeks to avoid Disney World? Crowd-wise…the holidays.

#8 March – Peak Season for Disney

When is Disney least crowded? Not March. It’s the start of Spring Break so it gets busier, and the weather is starting to warm up, albeit not as humid as the summer months. The end of March is one of those busy times of year at Disney World. However on the bright side guests can really start to enjoy Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon again!

#7 November – Start of Peak Season for Disney

This month has great weather, great events (think Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party/Boo Bash + Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party/Very Merriest After Hours) and good crowds overall. Just avoid Thanksgiving week; if crowds aren’t your thing, those are some of the worst days to go to Disney World. Guests can also still visit the popular EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.

My best month to visit Disney World if trying to visit for special events!

#6 October – Low Crowds at Disney World

Okay, I love October in Disney. Once October hits, all of the parks will have their Halloween decor, spooky treats and a fuzzy, fall feeling. The weather tends to be warm, but not unbearable. There are also special events that you could attend, such as Boo Bash. Parts of this month are the least crowded time to go to Disney World.

#5 May – Best Time of Year to Visit Disney Orlando in Spring

I feel that May is underrated at Disney. Historically, May is much slower than April and the summer months, although it’s not the slowest time to visit Disney World. You can also find the Flower and Garden Festival the first two weekends in May.

#4 January – Least Crowded Times at Disney World

When is Disney World not busy? January. It offers great weather, which honestly gets chilly at times, the Festival of the Arts, lower ticket prices, and the end of the month is one of the least crowded times at Disney. It is important to note that January is famous for having runDisney events in the beginning of of the year, and New Years will always be a very busy holiday to attend.

#3 February – Disney World Low Traffic Days

If you are looking for low crowds at Disney World, visit before Presidents Day weekend. February is the epitome of the Disney World off season. And if you and your family decide to visit earlier in the month you can check out Epcot’s newest festival, the Festival of the Arts. Disney has also added the popular Princess Half Marathon through their Run Disney program. You will also be able to find some amazing deals in January and February if you are looking to book a Disney World Vacation package.

#2 September – Best Month to Visit Disney World

What is the slowest month for Disney World? Data suggests it could be…September? I’m a huge fan of the International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, so September is the month to go for that. Toward the end of this month, kids are back in school, festivals are full in swing and Disney starts decorating for Halloween typically in the beginning of this month. All the spookiness without the October Halloween crowd! But this month offers Disney World low traffic days, which is always a plus. And if you’re looking for the slowest time at Disney World, you just may find it this month.

#1 August – Disney World Least Crowded Months

If you’re looking for the slowest time of year at Walt Disney World, the crowds in August are not horrible. But the weather is genuinely…scorching. August also offers the start of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This is the best summer month to go to Disney World.

So, now you know the answers: when is low season at Disney World and what’s the worst time to visit Disney World? To be honest, there’s no BAD time to go to Disney. Because, well…you’re in Disney! Even if you aren’t able to go during the least crowded time to visit Disney World, you will still have a great time.

Slowest Time to Visit Disney World FAQ

f-a-q

Q: How busy is Disney World in December?

A: December tends to be a really busy month for Walt Disney World, especially during the holidays. The first week of December actually happens to be rather slow, and then slowly climbs to be the busiest times of the year at Disney World. Christmas Day has been known to sell out at capacity in the parks.

Q: Is Halloween busy at Disney World?

A: Halloween is a very busy time at Disney World, especially if there are After Hours events occurring. Guests tend to dress up the day of Halloween in all four parks, and then there is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party the night of, which almost always sells out.

How busy is Disney during Thanksgiving?

A: The week of Thanksgiving is usually the second busiest week of the entire year. It is extremely busy in Walt Disney World during Thanksgiving time and it should be avoided if you’re looking for low crowds.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets. If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our Walt Disney World Planning Page! Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our Walt Disney World Hotels Review page.

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well!

Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner and chief editor at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agent. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!